Communicating CSR: Case Study of Japanese Food Industry

Kaori Takano

Abstract

This study examines how the Japanese food industry responded to the food education law of 2005 throughcorporate social responsibility (CSR) communication. No previous study has examined factory visits and foodeducation of the Japanese food industry as social responsibility activity in the light of the new food education lawin Japan. Corporate websites of all the food companies categorized in the food industry in Japan were examinedduring the period 2009 December to 2010 March: A total of 275 companies, 139 publicly traded and 136 unlisted.Examined were the availability of factory visits, CSR reports, and food education lessons conducted at schools.Unlike a positive report from a study conducted by the government, the majority of the Japanese food industryappears to be struggling to meet the social needs of food education and has failed to establish effective CSRcommunication channels with stakeholders. This study contradicts a government survey report and reveals thefood industry did not appear to respond well to the food education law. The industry, however, may have engagedin an implicit CSR approach considering the positive outcomes of the national movement of food education,promoted by the food education law.

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